Educational policies and curricular standards, economic factors, local and federal legislation, and political mandates are increasingly a driving force in the literacy practices championed by libraries (public, academic, K-12) and public schools. Critical Literacy: A Perspective for Framing Our Work My experiences as a practitioner contextualize how I think about literacy and learning through critical literacy perspectives, theories that explore the dynamics and issues of power, identity, privilege, and agency shaped by “…one’s historical, economic, ethnic, racial, and gendered positioning” (Hull 4). Critical Literacy: Deborah Brandt’s “Sponsors of Literacy” Sponsors of Literacy as an Interpretive Lens for an Inquiry Stance Banner image credit: danxoneil. So You Want to Read YA? Guest Post from teacher Jillian Heise.

This week's "So You Want to Read YA?

" contribution comes from teacher Jillian Heise! Jillian Heise has been teaching middle school language arts for eight years giving her the opportunity to discuss thoughts and insights about books with real teen readers. She is currently teaching 7th & 8th graders at a K-8 school near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her students have access to her classroom library of over 1,300 books, and are used to her sharing her reading life, the importance of making reading a habit, appreciation for rockstar authors, and love of fictional characters with them.

She also shares her book recommendations with a wider audience on her blog, Heise Reads & Recommends. The New "Classics"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman AlexieSpeak by Laurie Halse AndersenMonster by Walter Dean MyersThirteen Reasons Why by Jay AsherThe Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins* The RomancesThe Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E.
Teach Mentor Texts: It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 2/4/13. It’s Monday!

What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! It's Monday! What are you Reading? Is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. After doing the meme for a couple of weeks, we realized this would be a fun meme to start up with a kidlit focus - anyone reading and reviewing books in children's literature - it can be picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, you name it in the world of kidlit and it's in! Last Week's Book Adventures: Jen Says: I had a great week!

Kellee Says: This week was no where near as productive in the reading category as last week. Just click on any picture above to go read the review Upcoming Book Adventures: Jen Says: I have Navigating Early which I plan to read any break I get and definitely on the long plane ride back to Chicago. Kellee Says: I am still trudging through Dangerous Days of Daniel X. Check back throughout the week to hear about these books. So, what are you reading this week?
Barbara Stripling for ALA President » It is the time for us to transform our libraries!

Children's Book Reviews by StorySnoops - Home (Find-A-Book) and Holiday Reading Lists. READINGPOWER. 2¢ Worth. Listen A few weeks ago I worked and attended North Carolina's ISTE affiliate conference.

I opened the NCTIES conference with a breakfast keynote address and Marc Prensky closed it with a luncheon keynote the next day. Sadly, I missed the second day of the conference. I would first offer some constructive criticism to NCTIES , and to all such ed-tech conferences across the nation and around the world. You do a fabulous job of offering dynamic learning experiences for teachers who are new to teaching or new to utilizing contemporary information and communication technologies in their classrooms.

The only idea I can think of is to have one or two session rooms devoted to unconference topics. Now to the surprises It was in the student showcase, a part of most ed-tech conferences that I often miss, using it as an opportunity to visit the exhibitors or dash up to my room for something or other. “No software. After my hesitation, she continued, “..the game master.”
Two Peas in a Pod. Librarian in Black Blog – Sarah Houghton-Jan.